Nova Scotia car collector Michael Nelson, shown in a handout photo, says his landlord asked him to remove his graveyard-painted hearse from his driveway after complaints from other residents of his largely elderly neighbourhood. Nelson purchased the white 1990 Cadillac Brougham hearse, which features a graveyard scene painted on its side and a gate with the words "final destiny" painted on the back, from Ontario a few weeks ago.

Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Michael Nelson

May 26, 2016 - 7:00 AM

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. - Michael Nelson's graveyard-painted hearse is turning heads in a small Nova Scotia town - but apparently upsetting some residents in his mostly senior neighbourhood.

Nelson purchased the white 1990 Cadillac Brougham hearse, which features a graveyard scene painted on its side and a gate with the words "final destiny" painted on the back, from Ontario a few weeks ago.

Since parking it in his Bridgewater driveway, Nelson said his landlord has asked him to remove it, citing complaints from neighbours.

"I've been a car guy all my life so it just kind of threw me for a loop because to me it's just an ordinary car, but I guess to them, they got offended by it," said Nelson in a phone interview on Wednesday.

"(My landlord) said some of the neighbours were complaining and they have the house for sale that I'm renting too and they didn't want the hearse sitting in the yard."

The 54-year-old Nelson says he lives on a street with elderly people and although he's proud of his purchase, he's willing to comply with his landlord's request.

"I'm not sure why people are offended by this type of car," said Nelson, who has owned two other hearses in the past. "I bought it as a conversation piece and I guess it's becoming quite the conversation piece."

Nelson said many others in the community are not offended by the hearse, once used to transport coffins.

He said he had the vehicle parked at a local takeout restaurant on Tuesday and set up a life-sized, mechanical zombie at the back of the vehicle for a laugh. He said the hearse drew a crowd, including a priest and his son.

"(The priest and his son) walked by the zombie a couple of times to activate it. They were getting a real kick out of it," said Nelson with a laugh. "Everybody seems to love it."

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior